Identity thief who posed as cop gets 4 years

EVERETT — A career criminal who posed as a cop was sentenced to just over four years in prison.

Kenneth Moody on Wednesday tried to convince a judge that he needs drug treatment, not prison time. He asked for a special sentence offered to defendants whose crimes are tied to their drug addictions. That alternative would have cut his time behind bars in exchange for treatment outside prison.

Prosecutors were opposed to Moody’s request. The defendant has a lengthy criminal history, but no convictions for drug crimes.

The judge concluded a special sentence wasn’t warranted.

Last month, a jury convicted Moody of identity theft after prosecutors alleged that he tried to cash a $1,450 forged check. He then pleaded guilty to three more felony charges. The new convictions were connected to Moody’s attempts to pass himself off as a cop as a way to steal from Snohomish County stores.